Sanitary cuspidor.



T. W. JOHNSON.

SANITARY CUSPIDOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-28,1916.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

Witnesses Attorneys.

THOMAS WILLNER 'JOI-INSON, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF 'I'O JOHN H. WATKINS, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SANITARY CUSPIIDOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS WILLNER JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Sanitary Cuspidor, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a flushing spittoon, and one object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the supply of water to the spittoon may be cut off automatically when the water has arrived at a predetermined level in the body portion of the spittoon.

- with a removable basket of novel form.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the outlet from the body portion of the spittoon will not be closed up by pieces of paper, matches, quids of tobacco and other objects which are thrown into the spittoon.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 shows in vertical section, a spittoon constructed in accordance with the present invention, parts appearing in elevation; Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevation showing a portion of the valve structure which is hidden in Fig. 1.

The spittoon forming the subject matter of this application includes a globular body 1 supported on integral legs 20, and ordinarily fashioned from porcelain or like material, to the end that the structure may be cleaned out readily. The body 1 is provided with a fiared directing rim 2 defining a shoulder 3 at the point where the rim 2 merges into the body 1. A drain pipe 4 enters the body of the body 1 and may be assembled therewith in any desired manner. In the present embodiment of the invention, washers 5 surround the drain pipe 4 and bear against the upper and lower surfaces of the bottom of the body, the washers being retained by nuts 6 threaded onto the drain pipe. On its interior, the body 1 is supplied with an integrally formed lug 7, the upper surface of which is horizontal. Through the bottom portion of the body 1 and through the lug 7 passes a water inlet pipe 8. VVashers 9 may surround the pipe 8, the washers bearing respectively against the upper face of the lug 7 and against the lower face of the bottom of the body 1, the washers being retained by nuts 10 threaded onto the inlet pipe. A valve 11 under the control of an operator may be interposed in the inlet pipe 8 below the bottom of the body 1.

Interposed in the inlet pipe 8 and located within the body 1 is a casing 12 in which is journaled a rotary valve 14 of any desired construction, the valve 14 being provided at one end with an eye 15, through which passes for adjustment, a lever 16, retained by a set screw 17 threaded into the eye. If desired, the valve casing 12 may be supplied with a projection 28 adapted to coact with one end of the lever 16 for a purpose which will be set forth hereinafter. The other end of the lever 16 carries a float 18. The upper end of the inlet pipe 8 merges into an annular head 19 disposed within the body 1 below the shoulder 3. The head 19 is provided with a plurality of openings 21 discharging toward the axis of the body 1.

The invention comprises a foraminous basket 22 ordinarily made of wire netting. The basket 22 embodies an upwardly extended, frusto-conical bottom 23. The end of the basket 22 is of a diameter -to fit tightly within the circle defined by the shoulder 3 and may be reinforced by a ring 24 adapted to engage the shoulder 3, to prevent a downward movement of the basket. Side braces 25 are assembled with the ring 24 and extend downwardly along the outer surface of the basket 22 to reinforce the same, the braces 25 being bent upon themselves to form legs 26 which, engaging the bottom of the body 1, aid in supporting the basket, the legs being extended to form inverted U-shaped braces 27 bearing against the under surface of the bottom 23 of the basket.

In practical operation, water is admitted by way of the pipe 8 and the head 19, the water being discharged through the openings 21 in the head toward the axis of the body 1. The water thus discharged serves to wash down from the sides of the basket, the material adhering thereto, the water ultimately flowing away through the drain pipe 4. Should the drain pipe 1 become clogged, the water will rise in the body 1 until the lever 16 stands at approximately horizontal position, the lever being actuated by the float 18. Under such circumstances, the flow of water through the pipe 8 will be cut off by the rotary valve 14 and an overflow of the spittoon will be prevented.

The lever 16 ordinarily stands in the inclined position shown in Figs. 1 and 8, under which circumstances, one end of the lever coacts with the projection 28 to prevent a further dropping of the float carrying end of the lever. It is to be observed that when the lever 16 is engaged with the projection 28, the float 18 lies approximately in a common horizontal plane with the bottom of the basket 22. By interposing a suitable valve (not shown) in the pipe 4: and by adjusting the supply of water through the pipe 8, the water, if desired, may be permitted to stand in the body 1 at a level represented approximately by the bottom of the basket 22. This level may be adjusted by sliding the lever 16 through the eye 15 of the valve, and by holding the lever in adjusted position by means of the set screw 17, the float 18 in this manner being raised, the engagement between the lever 16 and the lug 28 being maintained. The basket 22 may be removed at any time, to permit the cleaning thereof. Owing to the fact that the basket includes a frusto-conic-al bottom 23, the solid matter thrown into the basket will be deflected away from the axis of the basket. Consequently, the axis of the basket will remain open to permit the flow of water or saliva therethrough.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is A spittoon comprising a globular body having a flared directing rim defining a shoulder; an annular head located within the body and housed beneath the shoulder; a water inlet pipe within the body and communicating with the head, the pipe passing outwardly through the bottom of the body: an outlet communicating with the bottom of the body; a foraminous basket fitting within the shoulder and including an upstanding conical bottom disposed above the outlet and spaced from the bottom of the body; a valve casing in the water inlet pipe; a projection on the valve casing; a rotary valve journaled in the valve casing and including an eye; a rod slidable in the eye, in contact with the projection when the valve is closed; a float carried by the rod, the sliding movement of the rod serving to adjust the position of the float with respect to the bottom of the basket; means in the eye and engaging the rod to hold the rod in adjusted position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS VVILLNER JOHNSON.

Witnesses HENRY C. SHERMAN, D. L. CHEEK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

